This course explores the
development and operation of International
Humanitarian Law (IHL), which is the body
of Public International Law that regulates
conduct during armed conflict. Although IHL
is the expression most widely used, the same
body of law is often, and more correctly,
referred to as Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC),
and occasionally referred to as Law of War or
Jus in Bello. International Humanitarian Law is
the body of law that regulates armed conflict.
It seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict by
regulating the means and methods of warfare
and by protecting persons who are not or are
no longer participating in the hostilities. IHL
has long been a part of Public International
Law, but has only been subject to treaty
since the end of the 19th century. Traditionally,
conventional IHL has been divided into the
Law of the Hague (concerned with methods
and means of warfare) and the Law of Geneva
(concerned with protection of victims of war).
While most IHL treaties were designed to
regulate armed conflict between states (i.e.
international armed conflict), the trend in 21st
century warfare has been toward internal
armed conflicts that often involve the armed
conflicts of when the Geneva Conventions
and their Additional Protocols were created.
As a result, a significant portion of the course
will be devoted to examining the challenges
of post-20th-century armed conflict. IHL is
related to other fields of Public International
Law, in particular to International Criminal Law
and to International Human Rights Law. The
precise boundaries between these fields are a
subject of continuing debate. The course will
consider the modern dynamic of these bodies
of law, and more importantly, examine how
they may affect future military operations.
Language of Instruction: English (legal terms,
however, are also given in Arabic and French).